247 CHINA SPORTS WEEKLY #4

Top of the league!

Two of Shanghai’s teams sit top of the stack in the Chinese Super League with perfect starts in their opening three games of the season. It appears luck ran out on Shanghai Shenxin however who occupy the opposite position at the foot of the table.

Shanghai Shenxin aren't doing quite as well as their rivals...

Forward Paulo Henrique is proving the architect-in-chief for Shenhua, the former Trabzonspor star scoring half of Shenhua’s eight goals so far this season. While over in Xujiahui, one time Roy Keane signing Tobias Hysen has continued last season’s excellent form with a goal-a-game record so far.

Paulo Henrique on 4 already

It’s International break time however for the CSL, with the Chinese national team playing a friendly on Friday evening in Changsha against Haiti. Whilst a win should be on the cards for the Chinese, this Haitian team does boast a strong squad, with a large number of playing plying their trade in Europe’s top divisions. The Chinese have only lost once in the 11 games that Alain Perrin has overseen and will be desperate to continue that form as they build towards this summer’s East-Asian Cup which they will host. This competition may not sound the most glamorous; however it directly pits them against Asian powerhouses South Korea and Japan. This competition should be a key indicator on how far the Chinese have progressed under Perrin and they embark on the 3 year process of World Cup qualification.

Chinese Super League will return the following weekend however, with only Shenxin at home on Friday 3rd April. Shenhua will face a much sterner test when they travel to the capital to face-off against Beijing Guoan.

Stephan Marbury about to eat a basketball...

In non-football related news, Stephan Marbury once again led Beijing Ducks to the CBL title this past week in their series victory over Liaoning. Marbury really turned it on in the finals averaging 29 points per game throughout their victory.

Finally, tickets are still going fast over at 247tickets.cn for the quickest show in town, the 2015 Shanghai Grand Prix. The season kicked off two weeks ago in Melbourne with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton taking victory.

Once again, if there are any other professional sports I am missing here in Shanghai, please let me know, I really need extra excuses to tell my wife I’m off out to watch some sport!